Under Construction

As Christians, we are always "Under Construction" in some way.  We learn and grow.  We see areas that are broken and need to be fixed.   The new parts that re-constructed are stronger and more ready to handle the tasks they were made for.  The construction process (or as the bible would put it, our sanctification) is always messy.  It takes a lot of work.  It requires a team sometimes to get the job done. Hopefully, what it leaves us with is a heart that is more reliant and dependent on our Savior, Jesus Christ.

Here are three ways Christ can take our life and constructs it to be more like his own.

1. Constructing the foundation of what we believe.

2. Constructing the community of believers we worship with.

3. Constructing our hearts to love and serve Him.

Constructing Our Foundation:  We are hoping to have the new building somewhat clean and less dangerous for when students arrive this coming Thursday. (tomorrow!)  Right now, the front entrance is closed as is the inside staircase.  There is a lot of dirt and dust, and everyone is working hard to have it "clean" for the first day of school.  The next six months or so we will have to co-habit-ate with the construction crew and learn how to best work with one another.

This reminds me of when Jesus is laying the foundation of our own personal faith.  Just like this process of construction is necessary to ensure the safety and better learning environment for our students, when the Lord is constructing the faith of his children he is wanting us to have a foundation that will be firm and steady.  While there are many other things we can try and lay our foundation on (like the people around us, our jobs, our reputations, our ministries at church, being respectful, loving...), Jesus is the only foundation that will stand when the others fail.  Beliefs that we have held for many years may come tumbling down as our hearts are formed by God's Word and shaped by his character.

"For no one can lay any foundation other than the one already laid which is Jesus Christ." 

 I Corinthians 3:11

Constructing a New Team/Community:  Every year, God sends amazing new people to teach and be a part of the mission/vision at ECA.  It has been amazing to watch how God has worked on people's hearts to come and serve here.  Our director, Beth Afanador, loves to talk about our "July Surprises" that we have every year.  This year, we have three new teachers who decided to join our staff just since July.  They quickly up and moved to Colombia in just two or three weeks to be ready for orientation.  What a blessing these new faces are!!  I am blessed by their faithfulness to follow God in the way that they have.

"We proclaim what we have seen and heard so that you also may have fellowship with us, and our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son, Jesus Christ.  We write this to make our JOY COMPLETE."   1 John 1:5-6

Please pray for these "July Surprises" as they adjust to Colombia.
1. AnnElise Pate - HS English
2. Laura Beach - HS Computers and Math
3. Josh Wright - HS Science (Med. Student who decided to take a year to come teach science.  He decided to come about a week and 1/2 ago and has already arrived in Bogota!)

 

 

Constructing our hearts to love and serve Him:  I have been busy praying for and preparing for my new class of wonderful 3rd Graders.  This year, we will be studying the theme of Responsibility.  I cannot wait to see all of the ways the Lord will challenge, encourage, and teach everyone at El Camino about the character of responsibility.

As an elementary team, we have brainstormed what responsibility is and how it is a part of God's character.  After exploring this at the beginning of the year, we will then dive into some favorite Bible characters and ask ourselves, "How were they responsible?"  We are hoping the lives of Joseph, Jonah, and Esther will teach our students what it means to responsibly follow God as a Christian believer and what God's grace looks like when we fail (Jonah - anyone??)

Christians Under Construction - The journey of being formed to image of our Savior!

 Prayers and Praises: 
For our Director, Beth Afanador, as she is stepping in as High School Principal (when she has MANY other roles that she already fills!!)  Right now, we do not have any other possibility of filling this role.  Please pray that the Lord would send someone to lighten the work load on Beth's shoulders!

For the students and parents as they return to school tomorrow and participate in our ECA community picnic.  

For new teachers - that they would find rest and encouragement as they adjust to life here in Colombia.  That they would be drawn to their Savior with any stress that they feel.

Thank for praying!!  Love and hugs to you all :-0
Carrie